Make Me: Productive

I finished my hat for the Green-hat-along at Get Stitchy, but I forgot to post it before the along ended. So here it is (insert fanfare here).

I'm ready for St. Patrick's Day now!

I received my Etsy goodies this week:

This wee pincushion comes from Linda over at Craft Apple. I love it! It's so cute and bright! But I don't want to stick pins in it, I just want to sit it on my nightstand and poke it every few minutes.

Also got my ginkgo plates by Sumiko. Aren't they adorable? I've not decided what to use them for yet. Maybe for jewelry, maybe for soap, maybe for tiny, little meals? Wee dim sum?

I cleared out my old camera of all the stored photos and found two I've not shared. First is the yarn Wendy gave me for Christmas. My first skein of handspun, I believe. Don't you love her tag? She carved that with her own two talented hands! It's 172 yards of...okay, here's what the tag says, cuz half of it I don't understand. "172 yards and 2.5 ounces of 80s merino and tencel 50/50 blend 2-ply, 10wpi ( a light worsted gauge - 18sts/4inches on US7) for Hilari Ford (that's me!!) because she rocks and needs to make more hats." It is so incredibly beautiful - it's got a shimmer to it - that it's a good thing I live alone because I've fondled it in a personal, invasive sort of way more than once. You should buy yourself some of her awesome yarn cuz she rocks and way more than I ever could. Problem is I don't know what I should make from it. I think it calls for something more special than a hat. Any suggestions?

I also have a bad scan of the beautiful Christmas card Stefani sent me this year. You can't see the stenciling, but trust me it is spot on. She's so incredibly precise! I'm awed. I also feel bad because I've not sent her a card even though I've very much intended to. Forgive me, Stefani? You can also buy her cards here. Her detail and color combos make me green with envy.

I've finished some earrings I want to post on Etsy this week. It was hard getting the photos. Now to write the descriptions and get everything listed - well, that just might take more energy than I have right now. I love these. They make me want to learn to blow glass. I think I got these beads in Arizona. They have this bead store in one of the malls out there. Some of the stuff is a bit over-priced, but they have some findings I've only been able to get online.

These I'm having a terrible time getting a good photo of. This is the best of the lot. Again, I think the glass beads are from the Arizona store. I picked up a few glass beads there.

I also have these, which are kind of fun. The little squares are copper and up close you can see a bit of verdigris.

I might have to redo my Etsy shop. I'm not doing so well and I think it's a combination of price and originality. My knits do well in person, but maybe don't translate to the web well. I'm open to any suggestions you'd like to make for improving the shop. I know I have to get better photos/scans and I'm working on that.

And finally, I've finished my tote for the International Tote Exchange. I can't show the tote because I want to wait until it's been received. However, here's the sneak peek I posted to the website. Most curious, no? It was a fun bag to make and I hope the recipient likes it. It's a nice roomy tote with some interesting details. I did make a pattern so I can duplicate it if I ever get the energy.